January 2010 Blog Posts (102)

Improving Your Horse Riding Position

What's the best way to improve my riding position?

We have talked in previous posts about the importance of a balanced position with ear-shoulder-hip-heel alignment and open and relaxed joints that allow the rhythm of the horse to flow through the rider. Proper position unites the balance of horse and rider, giving the picture of a team moving as one. If I were to guess at the single most common equitation error I see, what immediately…

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Added by Julie Goodnight on January 22, 2010 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

Dressage Training By The Mile

Remember that dressage simply means "Training". You don’t need to work in a regulation dressage arena to "do" dressage. Every second you’re on your horse, you’re either training or "untraining"! So you’re always doing dressage no matter what kind of horse you have or what style of riding you’re doing.

Think about how you can continue to train your horse yet add some fun and variety to his life.

Carla Varasso writes: My friends and I, who like to hilltop with…

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Added by Jane Savoie on January 22, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Best of William Micklem - 7 - RIDE LIKE AN INTERNATIONAL RIDER - TODAY

This is my ten year old son on his 24 year old 11.2 pony - both of whom need to be carefully minded. They are jumping a fairly substantial fence. Quite a challenge and quite a risk many would say, but the two of them can do this time and time again with little risk. In fact my son can ride down to this fence like an international rider, in terms of getting his balance right and presenting his pony at exactly the right take off point, despite…

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Added by William Micklem on January 22, 2010 at 4:00am — 8 Comments

Pony Club

Ok so I was talking to my Mum about Pony Club and she said I MAY be able to go someday. So I was just wondering how much Pony Club normally costs(in Australian money)? I'm guessing all PC's are different prices but I just want to get an idea of how much they cost. So just tell me how much yours costs.

Thanks,
~Neighree(lol)

Added by Nyree on January 22, 2010 at 2:05am — No Comments

Cant Wait!

So we put in an offer for Summer and we pretty well have it accepted. For those of you who dont know Summer, she is a 6 yr old 14.2hh Dutch WB X Paint X Welsh (Dam is Paint and Sire is Dutch X Welsh). Beautiful Little Hunter Pony. The reason we were interested in buying her is because she is a pony that we want to take on for a project. Also knowing that judges allow an extra stride for ponys, and Hunter ponies being worth more, we thought taking on a nice little horse like this one would be… Continue

Added by Rachel G on January 21, 2010 at 11:04pm — No Comments

Digging trenches - son of a DITCH

Ok, Ok, I know those of you back east have snow and all, and up in the Pacific northwest, rain is common - but here in So Cal, and especially here in the Mojave desert - we don't often get days and days of rain. We get days and days of WIND. Not wet stuff.

But it is here now. We really Need the rain and all that stuff - and i have spent a week trying to get prepared - adding dirt in low spots, digging a few preparatory trenches. But Oh lordy - this is a lot of water and the Big storm… Continue

Added by Monica Whitmer on January 21, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

What to do if your pony is spooky....

Ok, so up until like 5 days ago I just rode through all my ponies bucks, rears and take-offs that were caused by her spooking. I had a lesson with my dressage coach and she gave me the idea to do a inside flection. Also make sure that your horse of pony is in front of your leg, that will give them something to focus on and they will forget to think about the scary thing! If… Continue

Added by Ruairi on January 20, 2010 at 8:30pm — 2 Comments

my wonderful horse

hello every one
i have a horse that has just had a super bad ingury he was found in the feild we called the vet and he tore his tendent and almost died. he has had lots of help and is on the road to recovery. he is an amazing horse and may never be ridden again so hopefully he wil be fine.

Added by Maria Abrams on January 20, 2010 at 5:58pm — 3 Comments

Tummy Out! Find Your Strong and Supple Core and Release Tension

“Tummy out, tummy out,” I heard in lesson after lesson when I rode in Germany at Etoile International Equestrian Academy under the direction of Stephan Kiesewetter, chief trainer. Tummy out? I’d never heard such a direction from a dressage instructor, yet when I did it, I felt my lower back fill out and hip joints relax, the mobility of my lumbar spine increased while my upper torso stabilized, and I sat deeper. I found it easier to follow each big, bouncy stride—in fact, my horse gave bigger,… Continue

Added by Sit_the_Trot on January 20, 2010 at 4:30pm — 7 Comments

World's Tallest Horse over 20 Hands

No tall tale

Deforest enews

Waiting patiently in the barn before the historic event Tuesday morning, big “Jake” was standing quietly covered in a green blanket, calm and collected despite the palpable buzz around him, like a veteran prizefighter before a heavyweight title bout.

And make no doubt about it, big Jake is a heavyweight.

Valicia Denson’s Smokey Hollow Farm in Dekorra was the site for the much-anticipated match-up between Jake, a nine-year-old Belgian… Continue

Added by Susan on January 20, 2010 at 9:34am — 7 Comments

Fantastic Show in Thermal Jan 15-17!

We're finally home! After a long four day weekend my mom, Chance, and I all made it back safely. We had a fabulous weekend! Chance was so well behaved and he acted like a total pro. Unfortunately Teri couldn't make it over to California but another Arizona horse trainer, Kim Yacabucci, was able to help warm me up on Friday and Saturday. Here's all the details!

We… Continue

Added by Catherine Chamberlain on January 18, 2010 at 8:00pm — No Comments

"Don't Panic"...

... those were the first words in a message from our barn owner... so what do I do?

That's right, I panic.

My boyfriend and I drop everything and we race to the barn. We arrive at the barn to find The Squirt looking quite unconcerned.

The Squirt:

"Munch munch. Do I really have to come in? Can't you see that I'm eating?"

*head disappears into bale*

"Munch munch."

*Wanders to other side of bale as 'Mom' approaches*

"Munch munch. I don't… Continue

Added by Ferrous on January 18, 2010 at 4:00pm — 2 Comments

Help become a better rider

This blog is about how to help other riders get stronger legs and core strength. If you have any questions or answers then you can fell like you can add what you think.

Added by Stephanie Good on January 18, 2010 at 1:47pm — 2 Comments

Any Advice for BHS Stage One?

Hi everyone. I know that I'm asking a lot of questions, but I'm taking my Stage One in the summer and I need all the help that I can get. Any comments on the day, or help on the syllabus would be really great. Thanks guys!

Added by TheLaughingCow on January 18, 2010 at 12:49pm — 1 Comment

Meet Paco!

Paco is the first horse all participants meet when they first start our program because of his wonderful personality. He is a Quarter Horse, Dun in color (some call him Buckskin) and 15hh. He is 20 years old. He has done it all in his life from cows to barrels and everything in between. While he will accommodate our riders who prefer English equitation, he is a cowboy horse through and through. He is a dream in the saddle who neck reins better… Continue

Added by Borrowed Freedom Equine Therapy on January 18, 2010 at 9:00am — 4 Comments

This Week in Horse History - January 18th Through January 24th

This Week in Horse History - January 18th Through January 24th

January 18th, 1909 – Today, in 1909, the National Western Stock Show opened in the National Amphitheater in Denver. Admission was 25 cents. The stock show included cattle breeds along with a horse show portion, which featured draft horses and Saddlebreds. The stock show first opened in 1906. In 2006 its attendance reached a record 726,972 people. In 2009 there were more than 16,000 entries in the horse show…

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Added by Paige Cerulli on January 18, 2010 at 9:00am — No Comments

Freestyle to Music Clinic Report

How many times have you been driving down the road with the radio on when you've heard one of your favorite songs and thought, 'That would make a great dressage freestyle'? Or, how many videos have you seen of darling children on sweet ponies, in costume, riding a fun test to a catchy tune? I know I have done both, but then when you watch the extremely complex and polished Kurs… Continue

Added by KatyM., Community News on January 18, 2010 at 12:00am — No Comments

We're glad to be a member of the Barnmice community!

Special Horses Inc. is a 501(c)3 pending non-profit organization that facilitates fundraising efforts for, and promotes awareness of, 501(c)3 equine organizations. These organizations directly rescue, foster, rehabilitate, or rehome equines in need, or are equine assisted therapy, hippotherapy or therapeutic riding facilities.

In 2009, we sponsored four fundraising events launched via our website (www.specialhorses.org) and the Chronicle of… Continue

Added by Special Horses, Inc. on January 17, 2010 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Snow

Hi!

Here are some pictures of me and a pony called Pepsi. She is owned by the riding school but I get to ride her a lot for free. We took a short ride in the snow and it was really nice even though she was very spirited.…

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Added by Mathilda Langlet on January 17, 2010 at 12:48pm — 1 Comment

Sore, Achy Muscles

It FINALLY got warmer this week!

Wednesday morning it still was in the upper 20's F, and when I took my lesson at 1:00 PM the ring was just starting to thaw out. I figured it would barely be warm enough to use the bit (mullen mouth snaffle), though Mia was not too sure about that! I changed back to my jumping saddle because riding in my…

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Added by Jackie Cochran on January 17, 2010 at 12:30pm — 3 Comments